Bernard was a familiar face on television, playing Inspector Marquette in Cagney and Lacey, plant worker Caleb Taylor in the miniseries V and its sequel, Preston Wade on Days of Our Lives, and humorless boss Mr. Bracken in the sitcom Herman's Head (with Yeardley Smith and Ken Hudson Campbell). He also portrayed Martin Luther King in a 1987PBS special The Meeting, and guest starred on The Cosby Show, The Flash (as retired hero Nightshade), Night Court, and The Jeffersons. His film credits include Car Wash, WarGames, While You Were Sleeping (as Sandra Bullock's patient employer), and Liar Liar (with Jim Carrey, as Judge Stevens, his final role).